Can I obtain a letter of support for my grant application?
The SRC will provide you with a letter of support for your grant application. The letter will confirm that the Biorepository contains the sample type which you intend to use in your proposed analyses. The letter will state that the SRC is committed to supporting your study, following receipt of funding and approval by the SRC. Please contact the SRC with your request for a letter of support at least two weeks before you require it.
Can I request sample types or timepoints that are not listed on this website?
The SRC is open to working with investigators to facilitate collection of different sample types. If you are interested in discussing further, please contact us and we will connect you with the team that leads the prospective COVID-19 cohort to discuss further.
Can I request pathology and biopsy samples?
Pathology requests are currently handled by the Department of Pathology. You may reach out to them directly, or contact us and we will facilitate the linkage.
What happens after my sample request is approved?
The Admin Core will communicate the approval of your sample request via email, accompanied by an approval letter. A document with guidance/instructions for Biorepository investigators will accompany your approval and will describe next steps.A number of documents and pieces of information are required for study activation, described further below.
What is required to activate my study and receive samples?
Depending on the study, different elements will be required to activate your study and release samples. The Biorepository may require some combination of the following:
- 1.BMC/BU IRB approval letter or non-human subjects research (NHSR) determination letter
- 2.BMC/BU IBC approval letter
- 3.Executed MTA/DUA(s)
- 4.Documentation of Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) approval
- 5.Attestation for accessing protected health information (PHI)
- 6.Account/address information for invoicing
These elements is discussed in more detail below. When your study is approved, you will be sent an invitation generated from REDCap to complete an online Study Activation Form where you will provide this information.
Do I need to obtain IRB approval for my study?
You are required to undergo IRB review of your proposed study, even if it is to obtain a non-human subjects research (NHSR) determination. The SRC will require your IRB approval letter or NHSR letter before releasing samples.
Do I need to obtain IBC approval for my study?
The laboratory where samples will be held and analyzed must have the necessary IBC approvals. If you are holding and analyzing samples at a BU or BMC lab, you will be required to provide the IBC approval letter before samples will be released. Please review the CDC’s current guidance on biosafety levels (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines.html) to ensure your lab meets the necessary standards.
Do I need a material transfer or data use agreement (MTA/DUA) for my study?
If samples and/or data are being transferred to any collaborator or third party outside of BMC (including BU), an MTA and/or DUA is required. For BMC PIs, you can complete the agreement request form here. The completed form should be emailed to DUA.MTARequest@bmc.org. Include any associated committee review request forms, approval letters, and any data/material transfer agreement provided by external collaborator (if applicable). For BU PIs, complete the agreement request form here. Submit the form via the “Submit” button in the application, or email the completed form to otd@bu.edu.
Can external investigators and institutions (including industry partners) apply to use Biorepository samples?
The SRC prioritizes sample requests submitted by BU/BMC investigators. However, if you are an external party and wish to inquire about requesting samples, please contact the SRC. Please note that there is an external rate for non-BMC/BU investigators.
When will I be billed for the samples I requested?
The SRC will generate an invoice for the samples after they have been released to your custody. If samples were shipped, you will be invoiced for any relevant shipping charges. If you are paying from a BMC account, the payment will be automatically journaled from your account via a cost transfer. An invoice will still be sent to you for reference purposes. If you are paying for samples from a BU or other external account, directions for remitting payment will be included on the invoice.
This page is under development. If you have a question that is not listed here, please reach out to the SRC.